Ensuring the UK meets human rights obligations

I recently spoke in Parliament to question the Solicitor General on how the Government is ensuring that the UK continues to meet its legal obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

This comes in the context of the recent Supreme Court ruling that defines sex in the Equality Act 2010 as strictly biological, alongside public comments from the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggesting that trans individuals may not be entitled to privacy protections under Article 8 of the ECHR.

I asked the Solicitor General what steps are being taken to ensure domestic law remains fully aligned with our international human rights commitments, particularly articles 3, 8 and 14, which protect against inhuman treatment, guarantee the right to private life, and prohibit discrimination.

I also pressed the Government to consider clarifying or consolidating domestic equality law and the ECHR obligations to avoid growing legal divergence.  

With rights and protections under increasing scrutiny, it’s essential that our legal framework remains robust, inclusive and clear. 

You can watch my speech here.